A ?kodA year in review - Skoda Auto

InterviewMichal Hrabánek, Head of ŠKODA Motorsport“Tradition-minded, team-spiritedand hungry for success”2012 brought comfortable victories for ŠKODA in the IRC, European Rally Championshipand Asia-Pacific Rally Championship, not to mention six national rally championships.Michal Hrabánek heads ŠKODA Motorsport. Under his leadership it has become the dominant force on theinternational rallying scene. He talks about responsibility, passion and an uncompromising will to succeed.Michal Hrabánek has beenat the Head of the ŠKODAMotor sport division, with itslong tradition, for more than fiveyears. Before that, the 44-yearold,an expert in technical development,was responsible forthe global sales of ŠKODA GenuineAccessories. ŠKODA sentthe first clear signal of things tocome back in 2009. 2010marked wins in the manufacturer’sand driver’s championshipsof the Intercontinental RallyChallenge (IRC). The ŠKODAteam then went on to repeatthose victories in 2011, and alsoadded the world championshiptitle. 2012 brought even moresuccess for ŠKODA Motorsportthan the previous years, makingit the most successful year todate in long history of ŠKODAMotorsport.Mr Hrabánek, if you had todescribe the special qualities ofŠKODA Motorsport, what wordsspring to mind?Tradition-minded, team-spiritedand hungry for success.What role does the almostlegendary motorsports traditionof ŠKODA play in its sustainedwinning streak over the pastthree years?Tradition may not be a tangibleaspect of our everyday work, butit is still important. ŠKODA Motorsport’long history essentiallygives us the strength and composurewe need to master dayto-daychallenges.How do the mostly youngdrivers handle this tradition?The drivers tend to concentrateon the job at hand. Being a rallydriver is one of the toughestjobs around, and there’s notmuch time for contemplation orreflection. What tradition doesmean to them is this: They knowthe entire team has decades ofrally experience behind it, andthat they can rely on that in thefuture – tradition provides a kindof security, so to speak.What does this job mean foryou personally?It is, quite simply, the realisationof a long-standing personaldream. I couldn’t imagine anybetter job! I can contribute myown experience, I have a toprateteam and the best workingenvironment I could possiblehope for.And what about the successesof recent years – what do theymean to you?Of course, they mean a lot to me.But most of all, they are importantto the team, as confirmationof its outstanding work. ButI’m aware that success is alsoan obligation: As they say, afterthe race is before the race. Wecan’t afford to take things easy.As soon as you get too comfortable,that’s when things start toget difficult. We’ve worked hardto get where we are today. But itis just as much of a challenge tostay at the top – and we will doeverything we can to stay there.ŠKODA took part in the Asia-Pacific Rally for the first time in2012. What was the aim of that?First of all, curiosity and love of anew challenge. Second, it was astrategic decision: Our aim wasto raise the visibility of the ŠKODAbrand in this important growthmarket. Winning on our first timeout should have achieved that.What makes ŠKODA Motorsportso strong?There are many aspects: For astart, the ŠKODA Fabia Super2000 is a first-class, race-provenrally car that is now in itsfifth season. We also have topdrivers and an outstanding serviceteam. But the most crucialaspect, I believe, is the smoothinteraction between all our processes:Much of our strengthcomes from established, welloiledprocesses, combined withthe ability and willingness toimprove that rally racing alwaysrequires. Another importantfactor is our close cooperationand consultation with ŠKODAAUTO – with Technical Development,in particular – and withthe relevant departments of theVolkswagen Group. Here also,our work is characterised by astrong team spirit. That is basicallywhat successful rallying isall about: working as a team onall things, big and small, at nationaland at international level.What are your goals for ŠKODAMotorsport over the comingyears?We always focus on what comesnext – and that means upcomingraces. We want to be as successfulas possible again in 2013.That will require all our attention.We aim to stabilise our currentlevel of performance and, ifwe can, improve on it. Motorsportwill for sure continue toplay an important role in the future.We are all working veryhard in order to make the successstory of ŠKODA Motorsporta lasting one. 2012 – A Škoda year in review53